Archive for November, 2012

Skiing in Marrakech?! Well not in Marrakech, exactly, but from a base in Marrakech, only a short hop away. You might be forgiven for questioning the viability of skiing in Africa yet the High Atlas Mountains, about 90 minutes south of Marrakech, offer a skiing experience like no other.

There is a number of small ski resorts in the Atlas, most of them unsophisticated by European standards and with limited infrastructure but well worth checking out: Ifrane, Djebel Bou Volane and Mischliffen in the Middle Atlas, Mount Tidiquin in the Ketama district and best of all, Oukaïmeden in the High Atlas.

Perched at an altitude of 3000m in the Moroccan High Atlas Mountains, Oukaïmeden touts itself as ‘Africa’s Premier Ski Resort’.

Though many of the tallest peaks of the High Atlas are snow patterned for much of the year the ski season itself is limited to four months (December to March), the best snow being in January and February. Oukaïmeden has North Africa’s highest lift, a fixed-grip double chair to the mountain’s summit where you are treated to a 360º panoramic view.

Wherever you travel in Morocco you’ll hear music, the basic expression of the country’s folk culture. Traditional Moroccan music is an important part of everyday life, evident at every celebration, and is most often heard at celebrations of births, marriages, funerals, religious gatherings and festivals.

Ancient Berber music can be found in villages of the mountainous regions while in the cities the Arabic tradition is more evident, through instruments and music brought by Arabs from the east and Andalusian Spain.

Since the 1970’s Morocco has spawned indigenous pop (chabbi music), ranging from protest songs to dance music – these are often the sounds you’ll hear throughout Marrakech, in taxis, bus station PA systems and in shops, cafes and restaurants.

Video of musicians in Dejmaa el Fna

Visit any souk and the chances are you’ll find musicians playing. Festivals are best for discovering the wide variety of Moroccan musical styles such as Berber,Gnawa, Jajouka, Chabbi, Griha, Moroccan Rap, Sephardic and Sufi.